Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-11-12

l want to get accustomed to the dis.
grace which he has come upon me, ant
= Night with that object before 81,
will help me to realize IL DO you 90
to bed. Unjust take his management
out Of NrGt weak hands"
"lou won't drive him away, James
You'll give him 4 chance9 You wii
give him M opportunity TO try to re-
form! Don't turn him out int0 tn,
wicked world TO he l0s' %torcvcr.' sh,
pleaded, with sahS, Her husband did
moi immediately answer her, but al
last he said.-
81 will not drive him away get, HI
shall have one chance morc-a sl5glt
one. I'll make him understand .kut,
when he can understand any thing.
Now leave me with hint"
The poor mother rrept weeping tc
her bed She left the door partly open
between the rooms, that she might
watch both husband and son, Mr.,
Forrest sat rigid and ~motionless, rs II
he We're carved in stone, but the boy
slept on heavily Towards morning
he began To move uneasily in his seat,
then raised his head from the table
and Strengthened himself up. The
mother, whose eyes had not closed
through the whole of that long night,
could almost see the terrified express
ion III his eyes when they fell on his
fathers grim figure opposite. He rose
unsteadily to his feet.
stop, SIR said his father, walking
to him. ii have q few words to say to
you'
What was said was in too low a voice
for Mrs. Forrest to hear, There were
4 few brief questions, and when David
answered one of them, he hung his
head like a convicted criminal. Then
she heard her husbands stern voice
for a few minutes longer, and David
half staggered to the back door, opened
it and passed out.
Mrs. Forrest did not dare to ask her
husband any questions, but did not feel
uneasy when David did not appear at
breakfast. She concluded he had gone
to the store, not wishing to meet his
father So soon again. But when din
ner time came and he was still absent
her fears were awakened and shV no.
tlccd her husband cast uneasy glances
towards the door whenever it wa,
opened. She put on her bonnet aftcl
dinner and went directly to the store.
Mr.. Rapp was standing at the door.
Good evening, Mrs. Forrest" he
said. ''Where ON earth is David to.
day."
"lsn't he in the s%torc?" she asked,
with her heart beating like a slcdge.
hammer.
"Indecd, he isn't. He came in for 4
minute early this morning and handed
me u tcn-dollar bill and mumblcd on
something about having forgotten t,
put it in the till. couldn't make out
what he did say. He looked pale ant
sick, and I'm sure ought to have beer
in bed"
Without a word Mrs, Forrest hurried
home.
"What did you say to him?" sht
cried, passionatcly, to her husband
you've been harsh and cruel to him
| know, and now he's gone ava,
and | shall never, never see my DO,
againn'
II told him what | said | would" h,
, answered, coldly. "One more chanc,
, | gave him for amendment. Yes,
I told him he was 4 disgrace, Il clingin.
: disgrace, for | didn't believe he woul,
reform. gave him some money to re
: place what he stole. and that was all
+ | don't regret 4 word said. RcproacI
. vour own weakness. 1t isn't Just t
rcproach me. Since he has chosen t
leave us, it is perhaps the best thing h
could do"
q But though Mr., Forrest spoke in thi
\ manner, he spared neither money nc
: labor to gain some tidings of his son
f They traced him to seaport town, an
then lost all trace rs utterly as if tn
earth had closed over him. As month
@ and years rolled by, Mr.. Forrest gay
q up expectation of ever seeing hil
4 again, but the mother hoped still. TIL
u father grew nor silent and sad. Tim
as it passed had taught him that he ha
q erred in the harshncss and bitterne,
- with which he had treated his son, an
% he would have liked to retract son
- of his words. Misfortunes, too, ha
n pressed upon him. His crops ha
# failed three years in succession, he ha
IS mortgaged his farm in order that
might live; and in a few days thel
=. was to be a foreclosure of the NOR
gage, and the old place must pass OF
is OF his hands.
,. 'It's no use striving any longc
,e Sarah" he said, drearily; 81 do n
If know where to look for help, and v
# must submit and leave the old HON
N stead. Father was born here, rs we
d as myself, and | hoped to die in Il
is house in which he died. Wen bare
fe have II roof over us at Myron Cottag
f, but at least it will be our own. v
IA didn't think much of it when your auI
|. left it to you, and now it's our la
refuge"
=, at will outlast our time, James
she said, sadly. ''There's no one
10 come after us, unless David com
20 home
If Mr.. Forrest shook his head. He HI
Il long ceased to combat what he sa
was his wife's monomania about the 1
Z, turn of his sol. She always insist,
N that in the family devotions he shou
be prayed for as still living, and with
.o cruel pang the father uttered the nan
n of the boy he believed dead.
re alt will be our last Thanksgiving di
t, ner on the old place." he said, the d;
before Thanksgiving. "A lonely on
indeed. wonder if in all the wor
s. there is a couple as lonely and desola
as we areP"